Sick Brahma Roo- comb and wattles purple- totally listless

[64Coop-DeVille]

My 10 month old Brahma Rooster does not want to move and his comb and wattles look purpleish almost like frost bite which can not be the case. He also seems to be breathing heavy. Have not changed diet with anything new lately actually nothing is different except it was windy and rainy last few days here. He is in with 7 hens currently athough soon as I post this I will be seperating him from others. Does any one have any possible ideas what may be wrong and should I be worried for the others I have ? Would really appreciate any thoughts. Thank You

 

[lilfarmgirl]

I just had a roo do the same thing, this is what I was told:
He has a respiratory infection more than likely.. and he is very very sick... he proably only has a short time for you to get any treatment for him... Can you take him to a vet and get some medication... or... are you able to give injections... if you can go to your local feed store... ask them if they have any Tylan200 and get it ... with some syringes and needles...

Do you know how to give injections ... never put the needle all the way in just into the muscle and always on an angle... in the breast muscle its usually the biggest.. if you can't go to the vet and ask them to show you and give you some more injections to take home..

He only has a matter of days before it will be too late to do much for him... he is a very sick rooster.. when they show signs if illness to this degree its really bad..

he also needs to be somewhere warm and protected from any draft, damp or wet..
it might help to move him to bathroom and run the shower, or run a humidifier/mister as you would for someone with bronchitis to open the airways.
also..try and offer water by drops on beak.
vitamins and electrolytes in the water might be helpful..
however, try not to stress him any more then necessary..
if he will take the water on his own..that would be preferable.

Tylan is available at most farm/feed stores, such as TSC, or even at possibly at your local farm/feed..
Tylan will be found in the LIVESTOCK section..NOT the poultry section.
If you are not able to find the Tylan 200, get the Tylan 50..as quickly as possible..
the amount of Tylan 50 given is different then the 200..
you will need to know the weight.

 

[64Coop-DeVille]

Lilfarmgirl thank you so much for the info. You were correct he was a very ill bird I lost him no more than thirty minutes after my post. I tend to agree it was some lung infection he always had like a smokers rattle right after he would crow. Me being fairly new to all this thought it was just his type of crow and no other signs of sickness ever presented themselves. So actually the recent rain we had could have been the final factor maybe? Would you happen to know if these illness are contagious? I would hate for any of my girls to get sick. I feel like an idiot that I didn't catch it earlier he was a really large and mellow guy my Favorite actually. Thank You again for you sense of urgency I do appreciate it.

 

[Cluck4Me]

64-Coop, I'm so so sorry you lost your Roo! My heart goes out to you, really truly....

Actually an hour ago I had the Vet put down my sweet beautiful newly adopted Roo - same thing: listless for days, purple comb, rattle after his crow. Our Roo also developed watery poop this past week....my kids are crying as I type this!

The Vet said he had an internal infection, his body temp was super high and based on the fact of how dense his pretty feathers were, I wouldn't have noticed his weight loss....my guess now is that it was also respiratory. The Vet said this type of infection can take a while to develop...sometimes weeks.
No more adopting...you never know what you'll get.

Lilfarmgirl, thank you for the great info on your posting! Hopefully there won't be a next time...but if there is, your info will be a great resource!
Hugs to all..

- Sandy

 

[lilfarmgirl]

I am sorry also, the same thing happened to me or I wouldn't have known what was happening to your roo. I feel the weather could be a factor. It was warm, then cold, warm, cold. I know it has an effect on the other animals, so I figure even though my chickens are in on the cold miserable days, the up and down of the temperature might still play a factor.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss...it can be so rough to lose a favorite bird.

The comb and wattles turning blue are a sign that there probably isn't enough oxygen in the bird's bloodstream (or the bird has circulation problems). A respiratory infection would account for the lack of oxygen.

For anyone who doesn't know, the red color of the comb and wattles is caused by blood running through very tiny capillaries and vascular tissue in those parts of the bird. A bright red comb, if characteristic for the breed, is a sign of health. (Check out my comb page if you want to learn more).

 

[64Coop-DeVille]

I gotta say I have not run across a more compassionate or knowledgable group of folks anywhere. Thanks to each of you lilfarmgirl,cluck4me and chickenlady! I cannot tell you what peace of mind it is to know there are people like ya'll in the world. cluck4me I am truly sorry for your loss and even more so for the children. Lifes lessons are not easy for sure. But as far as doing what was obviously a kind act by adopting your bird to begin with says alot about the person. I am proud to be associated on any level with the likes of ya'll! thank you, Randy

 

[Cluck4Me]

Today is a new day...let's be grateful fo all that we have and all that we've learned!
Here is a hug to all on our post